Fugly Farm

[igorsMistress]

A busy day for sure IM! What goes in to an adult hot chocolate, inquiring minds want to know.

Usually a shot of butterscotch schnapps. Sometimes a shot of peppermint schnapps or brandy. It’s a nice way to relax once in a while.

 

[igorsMistress]

Single Malt Scotch Whiskey!

We have some good whiskey, I like it in hot tea with a dash of honey and lemon.

 

[cavemanrich]

Oh, also made some refried beans

I on occasion do make my own refried beans. I use dry pinto beans, that I soak overnight. Then I cook with some seasonings. Afterwards, I use potato masher to finish the job.
What seasonings do you cook your beans with ,, if any??

I like it in hot tea

I don't consume adult beverages for many years now. But before that time, We would drink tea, with a HIT of red wine. White wine work also. The tea sure made you feel slightly warmer on a cold winter eve.

 

[igorsMistress]

I on occasion do make my own refried beans. I use dry pinto beans, that I soak overnight. Then I cook with some seasonings. Afterwards, I use potato masher to finish the job.
What seasonings do you cook your beans with ,, if any??

I don't consume adult beverages for many years now. But before that time, We would drink tea, with a HIT of red wine. White wine work also. The tea sure made you feel slightly warmer on a cold winter eve.

I do the same process. The only seasoning I add is onion and garlic, sometimes a bay leaf but not always. While I do use the cooking water for creaminess, we like to add a little bacon grease sometimes too. What do you use Cavey?

Haven’t ever tried wine in my tea, sounds interesting. My folks used to let us drink a glass of wine at dinner sometimes when I was a kid. It so happens I got a stomach bug at such a time and wine was ruined for me forever pretty much.

 

[cavemanrich]

What do you use Cavey?

I use a 2 pound bag of beans.
I also use Garlic, and onion. My onion is usually dry minced onion flakes. about 1/4 cup. Garlic, is Dry powder, or chips. about 2 Tablespoons. Whichever is on hand. I also use about a teaspoon-Plus of Cumin.
I have experimented with small amounts of other seasonings. Italian Seasoning, Chili powder, and others that call out to me.
The soaked beans get final rinse,, and then; I have it figured out the correct amount of cooking water. About 1 inch+ above the beans level.
This method, I don't need to drain any excess liquid. When cooking is done, on small to medium flame, I mash.
Found this to be easy, and don't loose any of my seasonings to water draining.

 

[igorsMistress]

I use a 2 pound bag of beans.
I also use Garlic, and onion. My onion is usually dry minced onion flakes. about 1/4 cup. Garlic, is Dry powder, or chips. about 2 Tablespoons. Whichever is on hand. I also use about a teaspoon-Plus of Cumin.
I have experimented with small amounts of other seasonings. Italian Seasoning, Chili powder, and others that call out to me.
The soaked beans get final rinse,, and then; I have it figured out the correct amount of cooking water. About 1 inch+ above the beans level.
This method, I don't need to drain any excess liquid. When cooking is done, on small to medium flame, I mash.
Found this to be easy, and don't loose any of my seasonings to water draining.

Sounds yummy! I do the same process I guess. Rinse, soak, rinse and simmer, but I add salt and additional seasonings when I mash, that’s just how I was taught so that’s how I do it. I may try the dried seasonings in the simmer water next time to see if we like that though.

I’ve added a little liquid smoke to the simmer water before, and I’ve used a little bacon grease when frying/mashing and those were both good.l

 

[igorsMistress]

Brrr it is COLD outside. Abby is currently wrapped in a blanket laying on my feet. All I see is the tips of her ears poking out. We had wind all night, I could hear the chimes chiming, and it’s 36 degrees out there. So far the cool weather plants are doing fine, watering every other day. I think I need to water the big trees soon, the mesquite out front is showing some stress from lack of water. We haven’t had rain in months and when we got some it was a literal drop in the bucket. I need to wait until February to do that, right now the water co is setting rates for the next year based on usage; a tidbit I learned from a neighbor. I didn’t see the ducks when I went outside so they must have found a spot out of the wind to hunker down for the night.

The blue crew won’t go in the coop, they’re still roosting in the shade garden so I’m going to have to force it I guess. I don’t really care where they sleep, but there’s no solid roof or walls in the garden so probably not the best place to crash. On the other hand, if wild chickens sleep in trees or under bushes all year, does it really matter? Maybe coddling them is why they’re susceptible to illness and a little natural selection is in order for a stronger flock. I dunno, still thinking on that.

I watched a video about bird flu and the expense of eggs right now. The video said that millions of birds were culled in the last quarter of 2024 on big farms and this is why our eggs are expensive. It advocated for letting farmers decide to cull, but I kinda disagree with that. To me it seems that letting chickens live a more natural existence along with good decisions about when to cull to prevent disease from spreading is the best idea. This is why the blue crew is on my mind. I may just turn over the bin they’ve been using and put some straw in it so they have a place to go if it’s too windy or it rains.

I’m going off coffee 100% by the end of January. I’ve been having just one cup a day, but the brand we drink made donations to politicians I dislike and I refuse to contribute to that. I also refuse to shop at a certain farm store for the same reason. Igor said my abstinence won’t make a difference. I replied that if more people did things like this then it would. Instead everyone says it won’t matter and they do nothing. I’m tired of that attitude.

 

[Shadrach]

The only seasoning I add is onion and garlic, sometimes a bay leaf.

Sage (fresh if available) 3 whole leaves per person in the pot works well.
Tarragon (again fresh) also makes for an interesting taste with most white beans.

 

[cavemanrich]

Igor said my abstinence won’t make a difference.

It will in your heart.

 

[igorsMistress]

Sage (fresh if available) 3 whole leaves per person in the pot works well.
Tarragon (again fresh) also makes for an interesting taste with most white beans.

I hadn’t ever thought of tarragon, I’ll give that a try thanks Shad. Unfortunately Igor doesn’t like sage and neither do th boys so I’d be stuck with the whole pot of beans to myself in that case. I don’t think his mom inherited his grandmother’s cooking skills so there has been a lot to overcome over the last 30 years